Feeding by age · Week 2
How much should a 2-week-old eat?
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
Most 2-week-olds take about 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) of formula or expressed breast milk per feed, 8–10 times in 24 hours, for roughly 16–26 oz (480–780 ml) a day. Breastfed babies usually nurse 8–12 times a day. Many babies hit a growth spurt around 2–3 weeks and feed more often for a few days. Follow your baby's cues.
- Per feed
- 2–3 oz (60–90 ml)
- Feeds / 24h
- 8–10
- Daily formula
- 16–26 oz (480–780 ml)
On this page
- How much should a 2-week-old eat?
- What's happening at 2 weeks?
- How much formula does a 2-week-old need by weight?
- Sample 2-week-old feeding schedule
- What are hunger and fullness cues at 2 weeks?
- Is there a growth spurt at 2 weeks?
- What changes next week?
- When to call your pediatrician
- Questions parents ask
- Sources
How much should a 2-week-old eat?
| Formula | Breast milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Per feed | 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) | 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) per bottle of expressed milk; at the breast, your baby leads |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 8–10 | 8–12 breastfeeds |
| Daily total | 16–26 oz (480–780 ml) | Roughly 16–25 oz (480–750 ml), climbing toward the 1–6 month level |
| Typical gap | Every 2–3 hours | Every 1–3 hours, often closer in the evening |
What's happening at 2 weeks?
By two weeks the AAP says many babies are back to their birth weight, and nearly all are by three weeks. Feeds get more efficient, and many formula-fed babies now take 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) at a time.
If you're breastfeeding, your supply is calibrating to your baby's demand. That's why frequent feeds this week are useful, even when they feel relentless.
The two-week checkup is a good time to bring your feed and diaper log. Numbers like "about 9 feeds and 7 wet diapers a day" answer most of the questions your pediatrician will ask.
How much formula does a 2-week-old need by weight?
The AAP's rule of thumb uses weight instead of age: about 2½ oz of formula per pound of body weight a day, and no more than about 32 oz (960 ml). In the UK, the NHS uses a similar guide of 150–200 ml per kg a day after the first week. Both are rough checks, not targets.
| Baby's weight | Per day (AAP, 2½ oz per lb) | Per feed at 8–10 feeds |
|---|---|---|
| 7 lb (3.2 kg) | About 17.5 oz (525 ml) | 2 oz (60 ml) |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | About 20 oz (600 ml) | 2–2.5 oz (60–75 ml) |
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | About 22.5 oz (675 ml) | 2.5–3 oz (75–90 ml) |
Sample 2-week-old feeding schedule
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12:00 am | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 2:30 am | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 5:30 am | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 8:00 am | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 10:30 am | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 1:00 pm | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 3:30 pm | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 6:00 pm | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 7:30 pm | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 9:00 pm | Milk feed: 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
Notice the evening feeds bunching together (6–9 pm here). That's classic cluster feeding and usually eases after a growth spurt. Responsive feeding (offering milk when your baby shows hunger cues) matters more than the clock.
What are hunger and fullness cues at 2 weeks?
Hungry
- Stirring, stretching and turning the head to root
- Hands to mouth, sucking on fists or fingers
- Licking lips, tongue out, mouth opening
- Crying is a late cue: calm your baby first, then feed
Full
- Sucking slows and swallows space out
- Hands unclench and arms go loose
- Lets go of the nipple or turns away
- Falls asleep looking content (the milk-drunk face)
Is there a growth spurt at 2 weeks?
Growth spurt notes
USDA WIC lists 2–3 weeks as a common growth-spurt window. For a few days your baby may feed much more often, sometimes every hour in the evening. Growth spurts usually last a few days.
What changes next week?
Week 3 often brings slightly bigger bottles (2.5–3.5 oz, 75–105 ml) and, for many babies, the tail end of that first growth spurt.
Read next: How much should a 3-week-old eat?
When to call your pediatrician
- A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby 3 months or younger. The AAP says to call right away, even if your baby seems otherwise well.
- Fewer wet diapers than expected for their age (fewer than 6 a day from about day 5), or dark yellow urine.
- Very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, floppy, or unusually quiet.
- Refusing feeds, or feeding poorly several times in a row.
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, no tears, or a sunken soft spot on the head.
- Forceful or green vomiting, or vomiting after most feeds.
- Red, black (after the first meconium poops) or white/pale gray poop.
- Yellow skin or eyes that spread or deepen, or any yellow color in the first 24 hours.
- Trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, or your baby is limp or very hard to wake: call 911 (or your local emergency number) now.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and call. You never need a reason beyond worry.
Questions parents ask
How many ounces should a 2-week-old drink?
Most take about 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) of formula or expressed milk per feed, roughly 8–10 times in 24 hours. Some feeds will be bigger and some smaller. Around 16–26 oz (480–780 ml) a day is a common range.
Why is my 2-week-old suddenly always hungry?
A growth spurt is a likely reason. USDA WIC notes growth spurts often show up around 2 to 3 weeks and last a few days. Feeding more often during this time is normal and helps breast milk supply catch up.
Should my 2-week-old be back to birth weight?
Many are. The AAP says babies are usually back to birth weight by about two weeks, and almost all by three weeks. If your baby isn't, your pediatrician will look at feeds, diapers and latch together.
How do I know my 2-week-old is getting enough milk?
Look at diapers and growth more than ounces. Six or more wet diapers a day, regular poops, a baby who seems content after most feeds, and steady weight gain at checkups are the signs the AAP points to. If any of these slip, call your pediatrician.
Related guides
- Baby feeding chart by age: ounces and mlA baby feeding chart from week 1 to 12 months: ounces and ml per feed, feeds per day and daily totals for formula and breast milk, with sources.
- How to tell if your baby is getting enough breast milkSigns a breastfed baby is getting enough: wet and dirty diapers by day, weight gain, swallowing and contentment after feeds, plus the warning signs to act on.
- Cluster feeding: what's normal and how to get through itCluster feeding is feeds bunched together, often in the evening. When it happens, how long it lasts, how to tell it from low supply, and how to cope.
- How many wet diapers should a newborn have?Newborn wet and dirty diapers by day, from day 1 to week 2: how many to expect, poop color changes, and when fewer diapers mean it's time to call.
- Newborn feeding schedule: what a day really looks likeSample newborn feeding schedules for breastfed, formula-fed and combo-fed babies, from the first week to 3 months, with feeds per day and gaps between feeds.
- Formula vs breast milk amounts: why the numbers differWhy breastfed babies take smaller bottles than formula-fed babies: daily totals by age, the 25 oz (750 ml) breast milk guide, and combo-feeding bottle sizes.
Free tools
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026. Numbers are ranges from these public health sources; 1 oz ≈ 30 ml.
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Your Baby's First Month: Growth & Physical Appearance
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?
- USDA WIC Breastfeeding Support: Cluster Feeding and Growth Spurts
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Breastfeed
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
Feedoo Baby shares general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. If you're worried about feeding, weight gain, diapers or your baby's health, call your pediatrician, midwife or health visitor.